Colorado teen shot and killed in prank gone wrong

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(CNN) — The combination of a gun and a surprise gone wrong left a beloved 18-year-old track star dead, authorities in Longmont, Colorado, say.

Premila Lal jumped out of a closet as a harmless joke to surprise a family friend, her father says. But the noise startled the friend, who grabbed a gun and shot her.

The incident happened Friday night in the city about an hour north of Denver.

Just before 8 p.m. Premila Lal showed up at a house her family once called home. They had since moved, and were preparing to sell the place. In the meantime, Nerrek Galley, a 21-year-old friend of the family, was staying at the house.

Lal and her 12-year-old cousin apparently came to visit Galley. Lal’s 15-year-old brother was also at the home, hanging out with Galley.

The girl’s father, Praveen Lal, said in interviews with local media that his daughter entered the home unbeknownst to Galley.

Authorities say the father’s description of what happened next — involving the closet, and Galley’s gun — is consistent with their investigation.